The majority (78%) of primary school children across the UK hear homophobic language, according to new research from LGBTQ+ youth charity Just Like Us in conjunction with VotesforSchools.
In a survey of 31,875 pupils across the UK, including 4,307 primary school pupils aged 9 to 11, the results showed homophobic language is rife among young children.
A vast majority (78%) responded that they had heard homophobic language, while for secondary school pupils aged 11 to 18, this figure increased to 80%.
In response to the issue, Just Like Us has launched a series of primary and secondary school resources on homophobic language. They are available to download for free for teachers to address and tackle the problem.
“In our home, we focus on love, acceptance, and understanding, and our kids know they can be whoever they want to be.” Matt, founder of Proud 2 B Parents
Some primary age children reported that the homophobic language they heard was intended as a “joke” and many cited TikTok as the place they have heard ‘gay’ used as a derogatory insult.
One primary pupil in Slough said: “Some people say unkind words without knowing what they mean.”
Another primary voter in Bristol added: “We have heard people being homophobic. We didn’t realise it was homophobic and it was just something that everyone says. We all agree we are more aware after lessons and discussions in school. It is helping our awareness and allows us to be better allies.”
The research showed that other contributing factors included gender stereotypes and social media.
One primary pupil in Glasgow said: “Because I’m a boy and have long hair I have been called gay before as an insult.”
Another in Sandhurst explained: “We mainly hear people call each other ‘gay’ as an insult or a joke. This is because we see it trending on TikTok.”
Parents are also noticing the impact of social media “trends” and “games” on the use of homophobic language among primary pupils.
Matt, an LGBTQ+ parent who founded Proud 2 B Parents, said his son Jacob, 9, was with his friends when they began “playing a TikTok game where they had to guess things”.
He said: “The rules were simple: if you guessed wrong, the others would say: ‘You’re gay’. At first, Jacob tried to join in, but after a while, he started to feel uncomfortable with the game.
“It is deeply concerning to learn that 78% of primary school children across the UK have heard homophobic language.”
“Eventually, he told his friends: ‘I’m not playing this anymore.’ One of his friends immediately shot back: ‘Well, you’re gay.’ Jacob, frustrated, replied: ‘No, I’m not, but my foster carers are gay, and what’s wrong with that?’ His friends didn’t say anything after that, but Jacob was left feeling upset and angry.
“He felt like the game and their comments were hurtful, and he didn’t understand why being gay was being used as an insult. It bothered him that something as normal as having gay foster parents was being treated as something bad.”
Matt added: “Our children have told us about hearing homophobic language at school, and it’s been a challenging experience for them. We’ve made sure to have clear conversations with them about what LGBT-phobic language means, why it’s hurtful, and what you can and can’t say.
“We’ve also shared what life was like for us growing up, and unfortunately, our kids have witnessed people saying homophobic things to their dads in public. It’s heartbreaking to know that this is part of their reality, but we also feel it’s not our family’s issue — it’s society’s issue.
“In our home, we focus on love, acceptance, and understanding, and our kids know they can be whoever they want to be. This openness and appreciation for the diversity in the world around them is something we’re proud of. However, it’s upsetting that even in 2024, homophobic language is still a problem.”
The survey, conducted in June 2024, asked 4,307 primary school pupils age 9-11 across the UK: “Have you heard people being homophobic?” to which 78% responded ‘yes’.
Laura Mackay, Chief Executive of Just Like Us, said: “It is deeply concerning to learn that 78% of primary school children across the UK have heard homophobic language. The experiences shared by young people in our survey highlight the urgent need for education and open dialogue about the impact of homophobic language.
“Homophobic language should never be dismissed as ‘just a joke’ because we know it has real-life consequences, impacting the self-esteem and feelings of shame among LGBT+ young people and those from same-sex families. We are worried about young people reporting a rise in games aimed at children on TikTok where gay is being used as a derogatory insult.
“To tackle this issue directly, we’re proud to have launched a series of new, free resources for primary and secondary schools that address the issue of rising homophobic language.
“We believe that education is vital for fostering understanding and acceptance, and by empowering teachers with the knowledge and confidence to lead discussions around diversity, we can help all young people become allies and advocates for change.”
Georgie Emery, Head of Educational Strategy at VotesforSchools, said: “At VotesforSchools, we share key topical questions with our network of voters aged 5-18 for them to debate in their classrooms before having their say via our voting platform.
“Year-on-year, we are fortunate to see positive changes to young people’s attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community that generally buck the trend of what is seen in the media and in our political landscape.
“Whether this is around allyship, representation, or rights, children and young people are consistently open to developing their understanding of and actively participating in discussions about LGBTQ+ issues.
“However, what our debate on homophobic language has made clear is that there is still a long way to go, and education has a vital part to play in future progress. It is therefore imperative that we listen to young people about what they need – whether they are LGBTQ+ or not – and act upon this sensitively but swiftly.”
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